So it’s nearly the end of May, and the garden veggies you planted in March, April and just last week are beginning to yield some great results. Now that things are growing and blooming, what should you be tending to, picking or otherwise doing with your raised bed garden? A few suggestions from GardenBedsNJ: Harvesting […]
Mid Spring Gardening Upkeep Read More »
To the new gardener, early spring planting can seem confusing. How are you supposed to put seeds in the ground when the ground is covered in snow, and you haven’t done anything in the way of loosening up the soil? They say to plant the peas on or around St. Patrick’s Day. But… snow? Huh?
How to Plant Peas When There is Snow on the Ground Read More »
Cucumber plants grow quickly and impressively from seed. The first time you dig a little hole and drop that big cucumber seed in, expect to be shocked when fast comes the day that a mighty cucumber sprout emerges triumphantly from the dirt. From there, your cucumber plants will just seem to lap the other veggies
How to Plant Cucumbers in NJ Zone 6 Read More »
by Maria G. I wrote a recent entry about how I grew some beautiful lettuces from seed. Today, at a garden center, I came upon a rather expensive shallow pot filled with the same types and colors of lettuce that I had successfully cultivated myself. These ready-to-eat lettuce plants were large, and evidently heavily fertilized. Looking
How to Grow Vegetables from Seed Read More »
Strawberries are tough to grow for a few reasons. For all the work and planning they require, the harvesting season is pretty brief. Here in Zone 6, we plant strawberries in the early spring, to be harvested by end of May, and June in the case of some varieties. Strawberry plants are susceptible to viruses,
How to Grow Strawberries Organically – NJ Zone 6 Read More »
(aka Fresh Picked Salad for One) by Maria G. A great deal of thought and planning takes place when I look over the selections in the seed catalog in November. I hope to choose interesting varieties of seed that do well in my NJ garden and taste great when prepared for the table. Lettuce is an
Growing Lettuce from Seed vs. Direct Sowing Lettuce Read More »
Winter blues getting you down? Don’t just dream about garden planning for NJ’s spring planting season… do it! Even a first-time gardener can successfully grow healthy and delicious vegetables if they learn the basics of gardening and plan their plot in advance. Below, a list of things to consider before you lay the groundwork for
NJ Garden Planning in February? Yes! Start Now and Be Ready for Spring Planting Read More »
by Maria G. Thinking about growing cabbages in your organic garden this year? This is a cool-weather crop that thrives in the early spring and fall. If you’re reading this in April, you’ve already missed your chance to have organically grown cabbage this gardening season. But don’t worry – September will be here before you
Cool Weather Crop: How to Grow Cabbage in NJ Zone 6 Read More »
Broccoli is a cold-weather plant that does best if planted in early spring for a June crop, or late August/September for a November-December harvest. Broccoli seeds can germinate in as low as 40-degree soil. Your broccoli plants will do best if planted in rich, composted garden beds. After 3 weeks, fertilize by adding compost to
Broccoli Planting Instructions for NJ Zone 6 Read More »
Are you looking ahead to February and March, thinking about what great plans you’ll lay for this coming spring and summer’s growing season? Mail order seed catalogs are the perfect way to get those creative juices flowing and be armed with everything you need to get a head start on your organic NJ garden! Whether it’s
Best Seed Catalogs Read More »